Easton State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Easton, Washington 98925
Wednesday, July 13, 1994 16:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT (PIC) WAS ON A CHECK-OUT FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THAT WAS REQUIRED BY THE FLYING CLUB. THE CHECK PILOT WAS ALSO AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI). SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PRIVATE PILOT TOLD THE CFI THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CLIMBING. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND NOTED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE AIRSPEED AND PITCH WERE NORMAL, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND. WHEN COLLISION WITH TREES WAS INEVITABLE, THE CFI SLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO REDUCE IMPACT FORCES. THE AIRSTRIP WAS SURROUNDED BY TREES AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND THE AREA WAS SUBJECT TO UP AND DOWNDRAFTS. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CHECK PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF TREES DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A DOWNDRAFT AND THE PROXIMITY OF TREES TO THE AIRPORT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City EASTON
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98925
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EASTON STATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ESW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 2221
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 717
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 13 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1705
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N65857
NTSB Number SEA94LA178
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17275907
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 13 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 82
Airframe Hours 5306
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AEROPRODUCTS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 193
Aircraft Owner City ARLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98223
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JVC AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 500 W. PERIMETER RD
Operator City RENTON
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98055
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RNT
Destination City RENTON
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 2640
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --